217 research outputs found
High-level Architecture and Compelling Technologies for an Advanced Web-based Vehicle Routing and Scheduling System for Urban Freight Transportation
The search for a more efficient routing and scheduling, the improvement of service’s level and the increasing complexity of real-world distributive contexts are contingent variables that generate the need for a system’s architecture that may be holistic, innovative, scalable and reliable. Hence, new technologies and a lucid awareness of involved actors and infrastructures, provide the basis to create a more efficient routing and scheduling architecture for enterprises
Paperiteollisuuden tiekuljetusten seuranta ja jäljitys
The purpose of this thesis was to find out what is the most suitable track & trace solution for road cargo in paper industry. The research objective was to propose a solution or technology that provides the data and information according to the requirements.
Both theoretical and empirical research was conducted to reach the research objectives. The research was conducted as a pragmatic, mono method qualitative study. The theoretical research was a literature review which focused on track & trace solutions. Existing track & trace solutions were researched, and their features, advantages and disadvantages were listed. In addition, supply chain and supply chain management were studied. Empirical research was conducted through semi-structured interviews. Three persons from the customer organization participated in the interviews. The main discussion topics were the information needs of the customer organization, and the benefits they expected the solution to bring. Analysis of the interviews was conducted inductively, and results grouped on the high level by research question themes. The themes were identified and findings from the theoretical and empirical researches were compared and combined. Based on the findings, conclusions were made, and the research questions were answered.
The customer organization’s requirements for the track & trace solution were solved, as well as the existing solutions on the market today. It was found that the most suitable solution for the customer organization would be a cloud-based mobile app that provides real-time location data, and that that can keep them up with the digitalization. The solution’s technology should be based on GPS & GSM. Other communication technologies are also possible, but GSM has been proved to be very reliable. This kind of solution could be later on developed to an Internet of Things solution. Later they could add other data collection technologies to the service, and as the technology develops other analyzing methods could be taken into use as well. The solution should also be custom-made according to the customer organization’s needs and preferences. It is a lot easier to develop the solution if it is made according to their needs, and the integration to their existing systems will be easier. Also, they are not tied to certain carriers if they develop a solution that carriers just take into use, rather than integrating into certain carriers’ fleet management systems. A custom-made solution might be more expensive than integrating into an existing one, but the benefits are greater
Analysis of Precipitable Water Vapour in Angola Using GNSS Observations
For accurate weather predictions and analysis of extreme events, a good estimate of the
amount of water content in the atmosphere is essential. This information is provided by
several techniques like radiosondes that measure this parameter at various heights.
However, most of them are very limited spatially and temporarily or suffer from
measurement specific constraints. To complement these techniques, Precipitable Water
Vapor (PWV) can be measured with GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) at
CORS (Continuously Operating Reference Stations) networks. when the temperature
and pressure are also known at the station location. PWV can be derived from the delay
in the GNSS signal when it passes through the troposphere.
In the framework of SUGGEST-AFRICA, it is being implemented a system to use the
national GNSS stations for the automatic computation of PWV in Angola. Thus, this
dissertation intends to describe the necessary steps to develop a system to be used for
supporting meteorological and climate applications in Angola. SUGGEST-AFRICA also
funded the installation of 5 weather stations, collocated with GNSS stations in Angola
namely: Benguela, Cabinda, Cuito, Luanda and Namibe, in order to obtain pressure
and temperature which is necessary to obtain the PWV estimates. When there are no
nearby meteorological stations, the potential alternative is to use values from
global/regional models.
Methodologies have been optimized to passive and actively access the GNSS data; the
PWV estimations are computed using PPP (Precise Point Positioning), which permits
the estimation of each station separately; solutions have been validated using internal
values. In addition, analyses are presented to evaluate the reliability of the network.
This work presents preliminary results for the variation of the ZTD data available all
around the territory in Angola and how they relate to the seasonal variations in water
vapour. Also, presents preliminary results for the time-series variation of PWV in the
Luanda station (collocated by the SEGAL group).
This study is supported by SUGGEST-AFRICA, funded by Fundação Aga Khan and
FCT. It uses computational resources provided by C4G – Collaboratory for Geosciences
(PINFRA/22151/2016). It is also supported by project FCT/UIDB/50019/2020 – IDL
funded by FCT.Para precisão da previsão do tempo e análise de eventos extremos é fundamental uma
boa estimativa do vapor da água na atmosfera. O vapor da água na atmosfera é
fornecido por várias técnicas como radio sondagem que mede este parâmetro em várias
alturas. No entanto, muito dessas técnicas são limitadas devido a resolução espacial e
temporal ou sofrem restrições específicas de medição. Para completar estas limitações
encontrado nas demais técnicas, o vapor da água precipitável (PWV) pode ser medido
pelo GNSS (Sistemas de navegação global por satélite) CORS (Rede nacional de
estações de referência de operação continua). PWV pode ser obtido a partir do atraso
do sinal de GNSS através da troposfera, quando a temperatura e a pressão também são
conhecidas derivado da localização duma estação meteorológica.
No âmbito da SUGGEST-ÁFRICA, esta ser implementado um sistema de modo a
calcular o PWV de uma maneira automática em Angola. Assim, nesta dissertação
pretende descrever os passos necessários para desenvolver tal sistema a ser utilizado
para apoiar aplicações meteorológicas e climáticas em Angola. SUGGEST-ÁFRICA
também financiou a instalação de 5 estações meteorológicas, colocada com estações
GNSS em Angola, nomeadamente: Benguela, Cabinda, Cuito, Luanda e Namibe, a fim
de obter a pressão e a temperatura necessárias para obter as estimativas PWV.
Aconselha-se o uso dos modelos globais/regionais para aquisição de valores de pressão
e temperatura quando não existe dados nas estações meteorológicas adjacentes.
As metodologias foram otimizadas para o acesso passivo e ativo dos dados GNSS; a
estimação do vapor de água precipitável é calculada usando a técnica PPP
(Posicionamento do ponto preciso), que permite a determinação de cada estação
individualmente e separadamente; as soluções foram validadas usando valor interno.
Além disso, são apresentadas análises para avaliar a fiabilidade da rede.
Este trabalho, também apresenta resultados preliminares para a variação de todo dados
do ZTD disponível em Angola e a forma como se relacionam com as variações sazonais
do vapor de água. Também, apresenta variação da série temporal do PWV na estação
meteorológica de Luanda (instalado pela SEGAL).
Este estudo é suportado pela SUGGEST-ÁFRICA, financiado pela fundação Aga Khan e
FCT. Utiliza recurso computacional fornecido pela C4G – Colaboração de Geociências (PINFRA/ 22151/2016). Também é apoiado pelo projecto FCT/UIDB/50019/2020 –
IDL financiado pela FCT
INVESTIGATING ICT SOLUTIONS FOR THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT IN THE FREE STATE: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES
ThesisInefficiencies in the public transportation system in the Free State province resulting in poor quality public transportation has led to the investigation of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions to improve the system, through integration, and the challenges and opportunities that may result from this integration.
This research investigates ICT solutions for public transportation improvement focusing on the challenges and opportunities for all stakeholders of the public transportation system. Critical review of South African legislation and policies on public transportation and ICT was carried out. This was to review government laws and policies governing public transportation development. It also reviewed how the government planned on improving public transportation, developments so far based on those plans and future plans, and how these legislations by the government have been carried out in the Free State province. A theoretical framework was developed to lay out expectations for the integration process including the adoption of technologies and adaptations to the new integrated public transportation system based on technology acceptance and diffusion theories. Questionnaire and Interview surveys were carried out on public transportation vehicle owners, drivers, public transportation users and non-users to assess the current state of public transportation, their needs that could potentially be solved by ICT and the challenges likely to be faced. The use of questionnaires was also to assist in identifying and defining elements needed for successful integration of ICT into the system. ICT experts, transportation planners, academics, public transportation owners and users were also interviewed to gain more understanding and insight on ICT solutions, the public transportation systems, technologies for potential use in the public transportation system and challenges that may arise due to integration
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